At the start of the Great Depression in 1929, the government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King implemented strict controls on Jewish immigration. This made it nearly impossible for European Jews to enter Canada. Frederick Blair, head of the federal Immigration Branch (1936-1943), was a vocal antisemite. When asked how many Jewish immigrants Canada was prepared to admit, he responded, “None is too many.”
The Christie Pits Riot
Many Canadians harbored anti-Jewish prejudices. Jews were discriminated against in housing, professions, and university enrolment and were barred from entry to beaches and resorts. On August 16, 1933, in Toronto, one of the worst outbreaks of ethnic violence in Canadian history occurred with over 10,000 participants and spectators. The “Christie Pits Riot” was sparked when Nazi-inspired youth unfurled a swastika flag at a public baseball game to provoke Jewish Canadians. Toronto’s Italian community joined in defense of their Jewish neighbors and the riot lasted for 6 hours.